Posting tray



July 21, 1931'. P. BERGMANN 7 1,815,826

POSTING TRAY Filed Sept. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Try].

uuuuuu" fivventoi' Philip Berg mm By; his Attorneys July 21', 1931 P.BERGMANN POSTING TRAY Filed Sep t. 1'7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PhilipBerymann I By his Attorneys 5 v q K1 Wm.

I July 21, 1931. 1 BERGMANN 1,815,826

- POSTING TRAY Filed Sept. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

F1912 my Fly. 14;

. Phz3Zip Berymnn V fly hisAltofnQ-ys Inventor:

' Pate rated 55 2131931 I i his invention:relatesgto' oliice appliancesand in particulartopostingtrays of the type used by banks and otherbusiness 'estabhshsheets; s I i; An 'objectof'theinvention 15130 providea PHILIP BER MMN, on iiIILADriLPHIA. rENNs LvAnIA, As'sIGNOB-j TOCOLUMBIA a STEEL EQUIPMENT' QMPANY, 0 PHILADEILPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION I orv PENNSYLVANIA I a resumes-n Application filed September1?, i927." seriarmieaa n;

'ments or containingthe accou'ntcards or postingtray with an adjustableback which may be locked in a plurality of positions.

Another object is to provide a slidably mounted adjustable-backforpostmgtrays,

wherein means are included for lockingfthe back either'inaverticalor'inolined position;

Another object, is to: produce an efiicient, strong and durablepostingtray which may be economically constructed;

Other objects.andr'advantageswill herein 7, after appear.

i seen from'the"i1ine*2'2 ofFig 1,,show-ing a pontioniof the adjustahle'backg f The views of the a drawings are it Figure '1 18x21," sideelevation of a posting .tr ay constructed according-to my invention;

, Fig; 2 is a vertical transverse section as f Fig; '3-iswarvertica1section as seen frointhe line" 33 of- Fig; v 2', t the back being shown1n tiltedposition 1 l ,EigQABis-a vie'w similar to showing the back:verticalgw Fig. 5 ris a horizontal section as seen from Fig-disahoriZontalsection as seen from tivesoi? some oftheiparts usedincon'strucfl v t 7 is a sim lar view as seen from the line7+7ofFigw2yanfd i detail ing the back. i

The; device has 'a bottoi'ni 1-, ends -2 and-i ya rigid side handanother sideh Theseparts may be formed-from pieces o'tsheet metal,stamped into the desired form and welded 1 together:

I The {sides and ends are of equal height, but, ethe'side5:is,isoformedthatit can be moved from; a vertical. position and slidinto a j packet; flier-med be a h thebottom 1, g 7

"Whenthe side 5 :is "in -the position under the bottom i (seeyEig-fl) asecondary side 7, ofiless height-than the'fside- 5 but extending thelength of the tray and 1 fixed to the ends thereof, Will prevent thesheets" of paper or cards A from sliding laterally therefrom.

mounted thereon.

The bottom 1 has feet 9 fixed at each corher, and these feet may beprovided with resilient pads 10, as is customary in devices of thisnature. I

At the end 2 of the tray there is a tiltable back 11-, of any approvedconstruction;

Suitably supported above the bottom 1 is another bottom 12 composed oftwo sheets of metal extending the length spaced apart.

. I In the space between the two spaced parts of the bottom 12 there isa channel 13, the bottom of which rests on the bottom 1, being attachedthereto by welding, or in any other suitable manner. I I

hesides of the channel 13 terminate in 'inturned flanges 14 which aredisposedfinfl substantially'the same plane as isthe bottom, i 12. V

,The channel 13 is Each of the ends has a handle 8 pivotally I of thetray, but

positioned lengthwise of the tray and its bottom has the central portionfor its entire length formed with up- V struck, inclined protuberances15. These ent, 1 s g s Above the protuberances 15', there is a rod 16extending the length of the tray and sup: ported by the ends 2 and 3thereof.

protuberances provide a serrated surface, the I a purpose of which willbe hereinafter appar- 1 Thetray is provided with a slidably Imounted-andvertically adjustable back 17 The back 17 is made fromsheet-metal and its upper edge is formed with a bead 18.

Fixed to the rear of the back 17 is a chan- I ne1-member19 in which isdisposed a springpressed latch 20, the lower end of which engages theprotuberances 15 to lock the back i in position. v r 1 t The channelmember 19 has aplurality of outstruck portions 40 which-are welded tothe distance from the back. Thefianges 19a of 'back' 17 The outstruckportions serve as r means for spacing the charm-ch19 a slight channell9e have at their lower ends notches 1 19b forming downwardly facingshoulders 190, as shown'inFig' 8. 3

metal, stamped intothe shape shown in Fig 11, so-as'to have a bottomcomposed of apair- L-shaped arms 22, which are disposed in the channel13 beneath the flanges 14, the .foot

"thus comprising a guide member.

"When the back 17- is in the position illustrated by Fig. 1 1,the'bottom of the arms 22 res 's on the bottom of the channel '13 andie-- 7 V angleto the latch 20, and when the back is in vents tilting ofthe back 17 forwardly.

When the back 17 isswung backwardly, the front ends. of the arms 22engage with the underside of the flanges 1 1, and thus limit the amountof inclination of the back 17 (see Fig. 3).

The upper edge of the channel 19 is bent at right angles, as indicatedat 23, and the upper edge of the latch 20 is likewise formed, asindicated at 2 1.

This construction of the top of the channel 19 and the top of the latch20 provides a horizontal chamber, closed on three sides,

in which a leaf-spring is mounted (see Fig. 2). V

The purpose of the spring 25 is to press the latch 20 downwardly so thatits lower edge will at. all times be in engagement with thebottom of thechannel 13.

Mounted on the channel 1nember'19, intermediate the ends thereof, is abracket 26. The bracket may be constructed from sheet- .metal, bent tothe form illustrated in Fig. 12.

This bracket projects through an aperture 27 formed in the-latch 20,.and 28 formed-in a follower plate 29.

The follower plate 29 has its lower portion oii set, as indicated at 30,so that the bottom of this plate will be spaced rearwardly of the latch20. j

The lower portion of the plate 29 is formed with lateral projections 31,beneath which are formed inwardly extending slots 82.

7 The lower edge of. the plate 29 is provided with a slot 33, throughwhich the rod 16 passes. The latch 20 has a longer slot as in-, dicatedat 34. The purpose of the latter slot is to permit vertical movement ofthe latch.

an opening On the other hand, as there is no vertical movement of thechannel member 19 or'the foot 21, these parts are respectively providedwith apertures35 and 36, through which the rod passes.

' The projections 31 or" the plate 29 are dis posed over the flanges14-, with the inner edges of the flanges disposed in the slots in thenormal or vertical position of the 7 back shown in Fig. 4, projections31 lie if notches. 19( 7 the shoulders 190 and the lower edges abut tingthe flanges 13 of the tray channel 13'.

with their'upper edges abutting The end of the bracket 26 has fixedthereon by means ofa screw 37 and a U-shaped cap 41 (see F 5), the upperend of a leaf-spring 8 7 I o c The spring 38 extends downwardly andbears against the ofiset portion 30 of the plate 29.

As the plate is loosely mounted on the bracket, the pressure of thespring against the plate forces the upper edge of the plate againstthelatch 20 andthe lower end thereof toward the flanges 19a of channel 19.V

W'hen the back 17 is inclined, as shown in F 3, the plate will bedisposed at an vertical position, theplate is disposed substantiallyparallel to the latch. g

T he latch 20, ad acent to the offset portion 30 of theplate29,isprcvided with a pair of spaced protuberances 39. These protuberancesare inclined downwardly and outwardly, and serve as means forcontrolling movements of the plate. i

I'ihe construction is such that the back 17 can be readily'shiited toany desired position in the tray.

If only'a few cards or sheets A are in the tray, then the back can bedisposed adjacent to $18 end 2. g I

As the number of the cards or sheets .is

increased, the back can be moved rearwardly.

plate 29 to the latch 20 from-that shown in Fig. 3 to that shownin Fig;4 due tothe fact that the flanges 14 of tray channel- 13 are engaged innotches 32 of plate 29. VVhenipro jections .31 have their upper edgesaligned with shoulders 190 of the channel flanges 19a of the backchannel, the spring 38 willforce them beneath theshoulders, thus '1latching the back in vertical position. The plate 29 thus constitutes aback-tilting "control latch. V

.However, should itv be desired to change the back'from the verticalposition shown in Fig. 4 to the inclined position shown in Fig. 3thenthe horizontal edge 24: of the latch is graspedby the fingers, withthethumb rest- 'ingover the top of the back 17, and the latch movedupwardly. This action will raise the bottom of the latch from itsengagement with the serrated portion ofthe channel 13. The inclinedportions39 of the lat'ch wi ll engage'with the face of the plate 29immeldiatelyfabove th'ejoflset portion 30 thereof, I and throw the-plateoutwardly thusdisennears; 812B a gaging projections 31 shuldersl90 andfreeing the platet29 for sliding movement.

, In this way the parts of the device which have been locked willbereleased, and when backward pressure is exerted against the. top

of back17 it will readily swing rearwardly ,to the position illustratedby Fig. 3. Y

On the other hand, should--'tbe desired to shift the positionof the backto increase or decrease thedistance betweenit and the ends 1 ofthe.tray, thehorizontal edge 24; of the latch is grasped in the mannerheretofore described, so as to release theparts locked in a the channel13. The back can thenbe slid either vforwardly'or rearwardly as the bot-.tom of the latch will havebeen'raised above the 'protuberances 15.,When the desiredposition has been reached, the latch can'then bereleased and its lower edge will engage with the contiguousprotuberance, with the other I parts occupying the positionsillustrated.

The invention set forth herein, is of b course, susceptible of variousmodifications and adaptations. I *The invention claimed is-:-

1. In aposting tray, the combination with a bottom having a flangedchannelextend- 'ing thelength thereof, said channel having a serratedsurface, of a back hav'inga foot portion connected thereto and disposedin the channel, and ia substantially vertically movable latch carried[by the back and ens gaging said serrations in the channel for lockingtherein. a p v 2;I'n va'posting tray, the combination with a bottomhaving; a flanged -channel,"said channel having a; serrated surface,of'a back, a member associated with the back having a portionengaging-"the flanges thereof, to

guide said backin'its movement along said channel, and a substantiallyvertically movable 1 latch for engaging said serrations and locking theback relative to the channel.

'3; ins. posting tray, the combination with a bottom having a flangedchannel, of a back i, :having a portion associated therewith anddisposed in said channel, and adapted to be slidably retained therebybut toallow tiltingiof the back from a vertical position to aninclinedpositiomand a substantially vertically movable latchfcarried bythe back and engaging with the channel for locking the back againstsliding when in either of said positions.

I 4. Ina posting tray,aibottom having a channel extending longitudinallythereof,

serrations in the bottom, of said channel, a

back, a guide member attached to said back and engaging jwith'saidchannel to guide and f a support the back when it is being 'moved, fanda substantially vertically movable latch member connected to" said backand engaging with said serrations. a f I 5. In a posting-tray, a bottomhaving a the. back" in an inclined I position theme mendinglongitudinally :thei eof,

senrations the 1 bottom of: saidi channel; a1 aback, fa guide memberattacherb to said back: iandiengaging with'said channel toguid e andisupp'ort the back when itf is being moved; a

{supporting member forisaidback in the rear 'yofi tlie same ,asubstantially i vertically: movab'leilatchflmember associated with said:sup- I :p'onting member 1 and: terminating just short of tlieaupper endof" said supporting'member follower plate'to shift it about thezpivotthereof as-it is .moved in one direction to thereby disengage the saidplate andsaid portions of the back to permit the back to be tilted. 4

7. In a posting tray, a bottom having channel extending longitudinallythereof, a. back, a support and guide member attached andialispringbetween the latch membenand 'ratlie 'supponting member to keep the latchim'embei normally in contact with theserratolsaid back and slidablyengaged in. the

channel, said support andguide member permitting tilting of the back, afollower meme ber pivotally and slidably secured'to theback and slidablyengaged with the channel, said follower member being movable about thepivotal connection thereof with the back from a position where it hasengagement with the back preventing tilting of either to a positionwhere it clears'the back to permit tilting thereof, and means for movingthe follower member to the last-named position.

8."In a posting tray, a bottom having a channel extending longitudinallythereof, a back, a support and guide member attached to said back andslidably engaged in the channel, said supportand guide member permittingtilting of the back, a follower member pivotally and slidably secured tothe; back and slidably engaged with the channel, said follower memberbeing movable about the pivotal connection thereofwiththe back from aposition where it has engagement with the back preventing tilting ofeither to a position where it clears the back to permit tilting thereof,means for moving the follower member to the last-named position,

serrations.

and a spring normally maintaining the follower member in the first-namedposition. 7

9, In a posting tray, a bottom having a I v 'ohannelgprovided witha'fiange, a back, a support and guide member. attached to said back andslidably engaged in the channel, a follower member having a notchreceiving the flange of the channel, said follower memher beingpivotally and slidably secured to the back, a shoulder upon the backbeneathwhich ai portion of the follower member" lies when the back is invertical position, a spring i normally maintaining the follower member Ibeneath said shoulder, and means for shifting the follower'member todisengage it from the shoulders and to' thereby permit thefollowermember to slide with relation to the back and the back to betilted. V1,0. In a posting tray, a bottom, a back slidable over the bottom,serrations on the bottom, alatch coacting with said serrations to holdthe back in adjusted positions, a member associated With the back andhaving engagement therewith and with said bottom nor mally preventingtilting of the back, and means. upon the latch cooperating with said,member to release said engagement when the latch is shifted todisengage it from said ri aa 1 PHILIP. BERGMANN.

